Investing in North Louisiana’s future and expanding the region’s economy: angel funds report on advancements in 2018

Jan 15, 2019

The
New Louisiana Angel Fund 2 (NLAF 2) was launched by BRF in May 2018 with more
than $3 million in investments from over 60 accredited angel investors.

Following
the successful formation of NLAF 1 with 53 investors and more than $2.6 million
raised in 2015 and its investments in 11 North Louisiana-based businesses, NLAF
2 is the second accredited angel investment fund in the region and continues
the NLAF goal of targeting high-growth startups based in North Louisiana. NLAF
2 already has invested in two North Louisiana startups.

In
November, the two funds held a joint annual meeting to review portfolio company
milestones and growth. NLAF 1, since its 2017 annual meeting, has invested in
three companies, bringing that fund’s current investment in North Louisiana
businesses to almost $2.5 million. In 2018, NLAF 2 invested in CyberReef
Solutions and Oleolive, with commitments to three other companies.

With
the two funds combined, NLAF investments include companies involved in the
following industries: software, healthcare, IT services, consumer
products/services and retail, industrial/energy, and a number of other
industries. Software and healthcare continue to make up roughly half of the
portfolio.

Created
to ensure a vibrant innovation ecosystem and invigorate economic growth, the
BRF-managed funds not only invest in companies as a fund, but individual
investors can also participate in “side cars,” making their own investments and
providing further opportunities to impact North Louisiana’s economy. To date,
NLAF portfolio companies have created 108 jobs – 76 of those jobs are in Caddo
Parish – with an average salary of $55,000. The combined generated capital of
NLAF 1 and 2 companies is $48 million.

A
clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a new approach to treating
addiction based on technology licensed from LSU Health – Shreveport

Embera
completed development of a new formulation of EMB-001, successfully
manufactured the new formulation, and tested it in a small clinical study that
will allow use in Phase 2 clinical studies. Patents have been filed in all
major markets for this new formulation that is expected to extend EMB-001’s
patent protection into 2038. Embera is in final preparations for two EMB-001
Phase 2 clinical studies, one in cocaine addiction and the other in smoking
cessation that will be initiated once funding for the studies is secured.
Approximately 40 percent of the cocaine addiction Phase 2 study will be
supported by the funding that remains from Embera’s $11 million NIH grant.

Produces
movies in the animated/CGI market cheaper and faster through the development of
new puppeteering technology

Swaybox
has developed a new puppet technology that is cheaper and faster than regular
CGI animation. The studio has also developed a new animatronic facial
technology. Additionally, Swaybox is beginning to work on a feature film. An
official announcement is coming soon. The studio has also hired a student from
the Digital Media Institute at InterTech, a division of BRF, investing in the
next generation of Shreveport’s workforce.

Financial
technology company making the private markets more efficient

Lagniappe
Labs launched the Prime Unicorn Index, which tracks privately funded companies
that have achieved $500 million in market valuation. It is the first index to
track share price information of such companies. In addition, Lagniappe is
building a trading platform (Alternative Trading System) for buyers and sellers
to trade restricted securities.

Cloud-based services that provide businesses cyber security protection for their mobile devices and give them the ability to monitor and control mobile data use by their employees Having grown every quarter for the last 12 quarters, CyberReef is set to expand internationally and will expand its employee base by bringing on 20 new hires.

Provides instant
replay to football coaches immediately after the whistle blows and is the
sideline video provider for the Canadian Football League and high schools
throughout the United States

SkyCoach has partnered
with Stack Sports and its Krossover brand to integrate their respective
sideline replay and film analysis technologies for youth and collegiate sports
markets. Offered for the 2019 football season, the new technology package will
allow teams to have in-game replay for analysis and immediate post-game
highlights for coaches to provide instruction without delay.

An educational
initiative to inspire children to properly care for their pets and other
animals through responsible pet ownership

PEP! recently launched
its new website and its new mobile app will soon be available. The app will
help children learn to take care of their pets by rewarding them for completing
certain tasks. Additionally, the company is prototyping its first product, due
to be released soon.

A biotechnology
company producing olive oil-extracted oleocanthal for research and consumer
products to address inflammation and disease
Sales of its product,
SUPER-OLI, have commenced, and the company recently received a grant from the
National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Aging to study the
effects of oleocanthal on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias